Asian Americans in Energy, the Environment and Commerce (AE2C) connects Asian American and like-minded professionals to share knowledge and foster opportunities at the intersection of the energy, environment and commerce sectors globally.

On May 15, 2018, AE2C and the Energy Bar Association (EBA) hosted the Honorable Neil Chatterjee, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), at the law offices of Alston & Bird in Washington DC in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

In his opening remarks, Commissioner Chatterjee spoke about his busy first few months in office. This included clearing a heavy docket soon after being confirmed, unexpectedly assuming the chairmanship and how the commission is working to increase resilience and enable a wide array of energy technologies such as energy storage, distributed energy resources, and nuclear energy.

During the fireside chat with AE2C Board Member Rasheq Rahman, the Commissioner talked about how growing up in rural Kentucky as the son of hardworking Indian American scientists presented opportunities to engage in STEM fields and how he and his father bonded over discussions about politics and policy which led to his decision to enter public service soon after law school. The Commissioner spoke of his early days on Capitol Hill learning the ropes, and how great leaders focused on surrounding themselves with talented staff to be successful. In response to insightful questions from the audience on qualities of a successful leader and the many demands on their time, Commissioner Chatterjee emphasized that kindness and empathy are necessary qualities in a leader and parents make different choices and sacrifices to help their children succeed. Discussing a recent trip to India, the Commissioner spoke not only of connecting to family and his heritage but of how Asian countries are both investing in energy infrastructure and learning lessons from United States government organizations like FERC to bring safe, reliable and affordable energy to their citizens.

AE2C holds events throughout the year in Washington, DC, Texas, and California. AE2C members benefit from exclusive access to discussions and insights from senior leaders in government, industry, and academia both in the United States and globally. If your organization is interested in partnering with AE2C to increase awareness of Asian American issues or enhance its Diversity and Inclusion footprint, please contact info@ae2c.org.